Former champions Roger Federer and Andy Murray enjoyed a light workout on Sunday at the Sony Open in Miami. Defending champion Murray briskly took care of Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-1.

Murray is no longer coached by Ivan Lendl but the Czech tennis great was in the stands in support of his former charge.

“I moved well [and] returned well,” said Murray who is now 9-0 against the man his mum Judy calls “Deliciano”. “It’s not always that easy to feel comfortable against him because there is not [a lot] of rhythm with the way he plays.”

Murray moves on to face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Monday. The Frenchman was a 3-set winner over Marcos Baghdatis in a battle of former Australian Open finalists.

Following Murray it was Federer’s turn to give a lesson on Stadium. And the Swiss did just that pounding Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker 6-3, 6-3.

Federer’s win was his 21st of the season, most on the tour in 2014. And he’s won 13 of his last 14 matches. Next for the Swiss is the original Baby Fed, Richard Gasquet.

“We have played many times now and I’m not sure how he’s playing right now,” said Federer of Gasquet. “I have to find a little bit. He’s got great game [and] gives himself time, sort of that extra second of time on each shot β forehand and backhand.

“He’s a good all around player. With the wind and the slower conditions, it works quite well for him. I think it’s going to be a tough match for me.”

In other matches, Kei Nishikori ended Grigor Dimitrov’s Spring hardcourt season 7-6, 7-5. David Ferrer was an easy winner and Tommy Robredo also advanced.

In the women’s draw, Li Na toughed out Madison Keys 7-6, 6-3. Former champion Venus Williams was also a winner as were Agnieszka Radwanska and Varvara Lepchenko.

In the night match, the Caroline Wozniacki-Sloane Stephens match fell flat as the Dane dominated in a blowout 6-1, 6-0 victory. The 16th-ranked Stephens came in higher ranked than Wozniacki by two spots, but she won just five total points in the second set.

“Just got my butt kicked, that’s about it really,” Stephens said. “I tried a lot of things, and it just wasn’t my night. It was disappointing. Just didn’t click for me.”

On tap on Monday, Rafael Nadal resumes his bid for a first Miami title against Denis Istomin. The women will play their full 8-match fourth round featuring both Serena and Venus and Maria Sharapova.

I think Judy is rather funny. If she is a cougar, she has good taste in men…….as I commented above, hubba hubba!! I think he is the most handsome of all the male players. Love his new hair do and scruffy facial hair. I don’t think I have ever read where he has a girlfriend. He acts like he might be a little stuck on himself…understandable!!!!

I wasn’t able to watch Andy’s match except for the first few games, but did you notice, in the shot of Lendl during the warm-up, how unusually animated he was, talking to Dani Valverdu?

I imagine Ivan will keep in touch with the Murray camp, and since he won’t be coaching another individual, there’s no reason he shouldn’t pass on advice. Of course it won’t be the same as his impassive presence, but he can still help Andy. Having said that, as and when Andy gets a new coach he (or she?) might resent outside input.

As for Judy-the-Cougar, I love to hear her speak. I always liked the Scots accent in a woman, and she has an attractively low-pitched voice.

By the way. Murray senior bears quite a resemblance to my own late father (born 112 years ago!)

Also by the way, if Andy were to break with tradition and choose a female coach, I think we can safely say it wouldn’t be Virginia Wade!

After that non-performance, Stephens should go into hiding for a while. Wozniacki played safe and STILL annihilated Stephens. Come on, Stephens. Even Madison Keys gave 2 time grand slam champion Li Na a contested match. I suppose Stephens only get psyched for a match if it is against fellow American and 17 time grand slam champion Serena Williams. I’m STILL shaking my head.

TBH, I literally rubbed my eyes twice to check that scoreline btwn stephens and woz….I have been a great admirer of SS since seeing her play and its rly tough to believe that she got destroyed by woz….common woz! I have seen woz play a lot of times and her game never excited me (no offence to her fans)….meaning her game is good but not destructive as the score suggests and that too against SS. Sure, SS mus be struggling with one or the other thing, time will say.

@ metan …LOL. I wish they would stop comparing Sharapova’s ‘Bulgarian hand bag’ to Federer. Well, until he start winning something at least. As of now, he is a mere imitator, as Roger Federer is still in a league of his own.

Here is an interesting article comparing the spin that Nadal and Federer put on their topspin and backhand. Perhaps you’ve seen this (It’s from 2012) but I stumbled across it and found it interesting. Don’t be fooled by the title; it is quite an objective piece.

Pefect Fan Woz never excites you as a player?no me niether,she loves a good scrap i will say that about her though,but her game is all about keeping the ball in play,and not doing anything with it,she has no big weapons either,her work ethic is very good though.

Okiegal Lopez is indeed a very sexy guy,but i love Fabio hes just gorgeous,and IMO the hottest guy on tour,and if hes a headcase then we would be well suited anyway lol,anyway looking forward to Rafa v Istomin,and i hope he plays like he did against Hewitt,but i hope hes aggressive and goes for his shots too,like he did last year on the HCs.

I’m so ready for the match……Hope he plays well. Istomin has caused him problems before, however. His match against Rusty told me his back issue has to be better. Kudos to Rusty for still giving tennis a go. Wow, he’s had his share too. I’ve always liked him and his style of play and he beat Fed lately too. That really did shock me.

Hippy Chic. To show you how disconnected from society I am, I didn’t know who Isla Sinclair was! I looked her up, and yes, there is a resemblance.

I haven’t watched TV since January 2005, I never watched game shows anyway, and I’m not a fan of folk music, so she’s never come to my attention.

Navratilova might well make someone a good coach, but they’d have to “click” as Andy and Ivan did, otherwise it wouldn’t last long, she having a strong personality. In fact I doubt that she’d want to commit to the travelling at her age.

Colin The Generation Game was must see Saturday night TV in its day,but if you dont watch TV now,then to be honest your not really missing anything anyway,as for Martina your probably right too late in the day for coaching.

The USO 2013 is my very favorite HC Championship win. I have it recorded and watch it when bored. To think he won it in 4 sets against Novak just blew me away. That win stands out for me because of what he’d been through the year before and how much he had to overcome……simply amazing!! Agree with you in that his play tonight was reminiscent of the 2013 DUO!!

wow! nadal is playing some intimidating tennis atm….looking too good for his 1st miami trophy. I’ll not be shocked at all, if he wins the entire set of matches here in straights….considering the level he is playing now.

@ chic, wats wrong with woz….did she ate popeye spinach or what?? yet another bagel and bread-stick served to another opp. If it goes like this, I m sure serena will back out citing injury….rather than going thru the embarrassment of getting bageled by woz ;)

Jose Felciano,
We need doctor so we can recover from illness quickly. Argh, too bad, no one will visit your clinic coz you don’t prescribe the best medicine and your diagnosis makes patient more depress. All slowly and no good. π­ν ½ππ

Harry thankyou,and so does Novak :-))..
Perfect Fan exactly i cant believe my eyes either.
Okiegal Rafa/Fabio match and i hope he continues to play as well as he has in the 1st two matches,and im still a one/two man woman Rafa and Andy in that order, despite the eye candy lol,and from now on i will ignore the silly sour graping from some,and their predictions that more often than not fall flat anyway,i dont know what he will win thats significant this year,but im of the opinion that anything can happen so lets wait and see.

Perfect Fan i think Serenas a different animal for Woz,and has a great record against her,and i dont see things been any different in their next match either,unless Serena loses a step,and goes into some steep decline,which looks unlikely ATM,i dont know about Rafa but he has looked good so far,whether it continues only time will tell,ive never been one of those fans that expects their favorite to win everything,everywhere all the time anyway,i just enjoy watching him play,and let the chips fall wherever that they may.

Hippy Chic ?? Woz is playing Li Na. Could be a good match, if Woz can keep depth on her forehand. Even at this level, matches in WTA are still determined bu UFE’s and not winners. Problem for Woz is that Li Na’s BH is as good if not better than Woz BH.

Klass i think what Perfect Fan was alluding to was if Woz got that far she would probably be a problem for Serena?but if shes playing that well anyway she could also be a problem for Li Na?but like you say doubtful,as she doesnt have any big weapons to trouble the top players,she has a very strong work ethic,and does like a good fight though,if she had a more interesting game i could probably then warm to her..

By the way ref UFE’s in WTA: most statistics are somewhat harsh. If your opponent has you on the defensive and you go for a difficult shot to turn the rally around and miss it, it is recorded as an UFE. This happens a lot.

It would perhaps be fairer to say that top matches in WTA are decided by Forced Errors.

OMG hippy, u completely missed my sarcasm and black humour thr in my last post. Common, i will never in my wierdest dreams will imagine that woz could dismantle serena….NEVER!! not even if serena has to play on one leg….she can defeat woz, even at 50% of her capability IMO.

I jus am finding it difficult to digest that woz managed to bagel her opponents twice & consecutively….with one being as good as SS. But nothing against woz personally, I’ll be more than happy if she can silence her critics by winning a slam someday to justify her no. 1 ranking for so long some years back….which came under heavy criticism by lotta ppl. But i admit, i dnt find her game good enough to win her slams.